Jammin' With Jesus

February 01, 2008|JUDY BRADFORD Tribune Correspondent

Theresa Shaw, 14, thinks it's important to have "a faith that goes beyond Mass." A new youth group at Our Lady of Hungary Church in South Bend called Jammin' With Jesus helps her to experience that. The group helps her sort out her relationship with God and talk about matters of faith with other students her age. Made up of students ages 13 to 19, the youth group got started in May 2007 under the leadership of Heather Mezosi, 32, one of Our Lady's youngest members. It had been many years -- decades, even -- since a youth group had met at the church. Mezosi and other adult leaders of the youth group say there probably was one in the 1950s, but not since then. The Rev. Lawrence Teteh, who has been Our Lady's priest for six years, was concerned about the lack of a youth group. "The teen years are typically the time when some people leave the faith, and so there is the need for a group like this," he says. After its first meeting on May 9, Jammin' With Jesus immediately got involved with the parish's Taste of Hungary Festival last summer. The group has helped with fish fries and spaghetti dinners. Over Christmas, they conducted a gift drive for two local families. They also helped to carry the Jubilee Cross, a diocesan project, from St. Casimer Catholic Church to Our Lady. Then, they helped deliver it to St. Jude Catholic Church. In November, they participated in another diocesan project by hosting the diocese historical photo exhibit. Their goals for the future, says Mezosi, include trying to get deeper into the Catholic faith and into social issues. They also want to become more involved in the community and in issues such as poverty and health care.